Materials
large balloonmarkernumber cardsbirthday party hats and blowersbrown paper lunch bagsstreamers and extra balloons (optional)
Instructions
1. Each time you celebrate a child's birthday, play this fun birthday party game.
2. Blow up a balloon and print the numerals 1 to 10 and write "Happy Birthday" on it.
3. Give the balloon to the birthday child and let him sit in a special "birthday chair" at the front of the class. (If desired, decorate the chair with streamers and balloons.)4. Give each child a party hat and blower.
5. Begin to tell a birthday story about the birthday child, incorporating numbers into your story. Display number cards and point to the numerals as you tell the story.
6. Instruct children to listen for the number words in the story. As you say each number, pause and allow the children to blow their party blower thedesignated number of times. Then continue the story. Sample story:Sophie turned four years old today. She invited three friends over for cake. Her mother put four candles on the cake. Sophie ate one piece. There were two girls at her party and one boy. Sophie opened five presents that day. Her dad surprised her with two brand new puppies. The children stayed until six o'clock to celebrate with Sophie. Sophie thanked her three friends before they went home.
7. Afterwards, invite each child to give a round of applause to the birthday child as they sing "Happy Birthday" and blow their blowers.
8. Print each child's name on a brown paper lunch bag and on their blower and hat. Store each child's blower and hat in their bag until the next classmate's birthday arrives.
9. Repeat the activity on each child's birthday, telling a different number story each time.
